Most computers come pre-loaded with hundreds of font choices, which make it difficult when choosing the right font for your job. The primary consideration when picking a typeface is legibility and not personal preference.
Let's take a look at the differences between fonts and why some are more suited for web readers than others.
Serif Fonts
A serif font has little structural details added on to the end strokes of the letters. These details came about as a result of adapting hand lettering into lead blocks that would be used for typesetting in the days of the early printing presses. Times Roman is an example of a serif font. Their popularity has remained because of their formal appearance and easy legibility. Virtually every newspaper still uses serif fonts for their body copy.
Sans Serif Fonts
These fonts don't have serifs and gained popularity in newspaper headlines and advertising copy. Sans serif fonts are generally bold and not as delicate looking as their serifed counterparts. A good example of a popular sans serif font is Arial. While sans serif fonts were mainly used as headlines, they have become the de-facto standard type for online copy. This is because the solid appearance of the letters makes for easier reading even at smaller point sizes.
Script Fonts
Script fonts generally represent cursive handwriting. These fonts are popular when people want to add elegance and sophistication to their projects. Script fonts should only be used as headlines because setting body copy in script is too difficult to read. Brush Script is one of the most popular script fonts in use today.
Decorative Fonts
These are sometimes called specialty or display fonts because they're mainly used as decoration. Decorative fonts are used for headlines when you want to create a specific mood or feel for your project. A good example of a decorative font is one called Rubber Stamp. The letters are made to look as if they were made by a stencil and ink. Again, these types of fonts should only be used as headlines and not body copy.
A major issue to consider when using decorative fonts is that not all computers will have the font that you want to use. You can bypass this by converting the font into an image, or graphic file, which eliminates the compatibility issue.
Which should you use?
The only rule to be aware of is legibility. Choose a font that's easy on the eyes and easy to read. That, having been said, there are a few considerations to take into account when choosing serif or sans serif.
While serif fonts are easy to read, they tend to lose legibility the smaller they go when it comes to web copy. Anything below 12 points appears muddy and will look bad for people who are using older versions of Windows that don't use XP's Clear Type software.
Sans serif fonts are the standard for web copy because they read well even at small point sizes. Studies show that people read faster, and with better comprehension, when sans serif typefaces are used in the web environment.
How to play it safe.
While no one can really say what the best font for web use is, there are standards that have developed because they work well.
Sans serif Verdana is probably the most used font online today. It's very easy to read even at small point sizes. Verdana has a clean, professional look and you can put a lot of copy on your pages without sacrificing legibility.
Other sans serif fonts that are considered web safe are: Arial/Helvetica, and Trebuchet MS.
If you're dead set on using a serif font then Georgia is the best when it comes to body copy readability. In addition, nearly all serif fonts can be used in headlines because they're easy to read at larger sizes.
Of course, your font choices will largely depend on your target audience, and that's something that your web designer can help you with once you determine who will be reading your site.
- Nina Menezes
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